A serial domestic abuser who harassed a girlfriend when she ended their relationship after uncovering his murky past has been described as a risk to the public.
Kevin McCallum escaped a prison sentence on Thursday but will now be subject to three-year probation and community payback orders, with conditions including a ban on entering Montrose for the entire 36 months and a requirement to tackle the problems he has with relationship issues.
McCallum subjected the woman to a barrage of text and internet messages after she ditched him just two months into the relationship, when an internet search of his name uncovered earlier domestic abuse offences.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, 26-year-old McCallum was told that although the latest offence was at the lower end of the scale, it was significant in the context of his previous criminal background.
McCallum, of Guthrie Hill, Arbroath, had previously admitted causing a woman fear and alarm between July 13 and 17 at addresses in Forfar by repeatedly telephoning her and sending text and Facebook messages.
Fiscal depute Hannah Kennedy said: “They were in a relationship for two months but the accused’s past convictions came to light because the complainer Googled the accused’s name.
“Concerned for her safety, she ended the relationship,” the court was told.
McCallum made repeated attempts to persuade the woman not the end things and then over the period of the offence, sent 24 messages to her.
The fiscal added: “They were initially non-threatening but persistent. As he was getting nowhere, he then started to make allegations of her seeing other men and the possessive and controlling features were coming out.”
The court heard their homes were only about 60 yards apart and McCallum approached the woman and asked her for a cuddle but she refused and called the police.
When officers were interviewing the former tyre-fitter, they noted that on five occasions he stood up and went to the window of his house to stare at the complainer’s home.
Defence agent Nick Markwoski said his client is currently the subject of a three-year probation order, imposed last June.
“In the text messages he is pledging his undying love for her more than anything else, they are not threatening,” he said.
“Mr McCallum is aware that because of his previous difficulties and earlier convictions he has placed himself in a very precarious position.
“There is a requirement to reduce the risk of Mr McCallum. He is only 26 and, inevitably, he will have contact with other women.
“Everything was going OK in that relationship until she found out about his past. The question is how we manage that risk while Mr McCallum is in the community.”
Sentencing McCallum, Sheriff Kevin Veal said: “I will not impose a custodial sentence on this occasion.
“This is not at the upper end of the scale but is very much coloured by the fact that there is a whole series of offences involving different women and that is a concern.”
The community payback order will include the ban on entering Montrose without prior approval and McCallum must also inform supervising officers of any contact with the opposite sex, particularly relationships of a romantic nature.
Included in the probation order requirements are conditions that the accused engages with alcohol intervention support services and those also dealing with relationship issues.
“Because of the risk he poses to the wider community, there will be a number of reviews, the first of those on December 19,” added the sheriff.